Between January and August this year, a total of 36 cruise ships berthed at Limassol port compared to 19 in 2020, DP World Limassol has said, adding that it is expecting a surge in bookings in 2022.

"As tourism continues to feel the impact of the pandemic for a second year, cruising is making a comeback in Cyprus and other parts of the world. On this World Tourism Day, DP World Limassol reiterates its commitment to further bolster the country’s cruise industry and turn the Limassol port into a top cruise hub in the Eastern Mediterranean," the terminal operator says in a press release.

In 2021, it notes, "the Cypriot cruise industry showed incredible resilience."

"Between January-August 2021, a total of 36 cruise ships (both homeport and transit calls) berthed at the Terminal, compared to only 19 ships in the whole of 2020, while DP World Limassol is expecting a surge in bookings in 2022, compared to 2021," it adds.

In statements, the CEO of DP World Limassol Nawaf Abdulla, said that “while our numbers haven’t yet reached pre-pandemic levels, the sector’s performance has been picking up, given the circumstances," he said, adding that "besides, in October, we are expecting a surge in cruise ship arrivals."

"The return to cruising was quicker than expected, as cruise operators have been implementing strict health protocols on board. As such, we are cautiously optimistic for the upcoming period,” he noted.